Momma H Posted May 3, 2015 Share Posted May 3, 2015 We are in Florida on vacation and are "planning" to go to the beach tomorrow. I thought I would just look up beaches and find one but it isn't working out quite that way! What is a good beach to visit? FYI, we are technically in Kissimmee but want to go to Tampa for the beach so maybe something closer that way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forty-two Posted May 3, 2015 Share Posted May 3, 2015 In St. Petersburg, dh's family went to the beach at Pass-a-grille and the north beach at Fort De Soto. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
creekland Posted May 3, 2015 Share Posted May 3, 2015 Keep heading west of Tampa, across the bay and across the peninsula. If you want a beach with all the bells and whistles (shops, restaurants, activities), St Pete Beach or Clearwater Beach are both excellent. If you want a beach in a more residential area (but still public), Madeira Beach is excellent (this is a great beach for finding different types of shells on). If you want a beach in its natural state with very little development around, North Beach at Ft DeSoto is awesome. Tampa Bay, itself, doesn't have the greatest of beaches IMO, but along Gandy Causeway and 4th St N there are individual public pull offs where you can have a private spot. Many people use them to fish. It's not unusual to see dolphins in there up close. The Gulf of Mexico has excellent beaches. We prefer them to their Atlantic cousins. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravin Posted May 3, 2015 Share Posted May 3, 2015 Never been to a gulf coast beach, just Daytona (too many cars) and Apollo Beach (which is or at least was clothing optional). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngieC Posted May 3, 2015 Share Posted May 3, 2015 We love Clearwater. Frenchy's has great food, too. From Kissimmee, Cocoa Beach on the Atlantic is no further than the Gulf beaches. My kids loved the waves the year we went there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunshine State Sue Posted May 3, 2015 Share Posted May 3, 2015 In St. Petersburg, dh's family went to the beach at Pass-a-grille and the north beach at Fort De Soto. St Pete Beach or Clearwater Beach are both excellent. If you want a beach in a more residential area (but still public), Madeira Beach is excellent (this is a great beach for finding different types of shells on). If you want a beach in its natural state with very little development around, North Beach at Ft DeSoto is awesome. Add Treasure Island to the list. It's going to be a beautiful beach day tomorrow. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Truscifi Posted May 3, 2015 Share Posted May 3, 2015 Normally I would add Honeymoon Island to the list, but they experienced a lot of beach erosion this past year and the beach is extremely rocky. Caladesi Island is really nice if you are looking for a quiet relaxing beach. You have to take a ferry to get there though. If you want the tourist thing, Clearwater is the best in my opinion. Frenchy's has good food and good atmosphere too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Momma H Posted May 3, 2015 Author Share Posted May 3, 2015 Thank you all so much, it really helps! Yes, it is going to be such a nice day here tomorrow--can't wait!!! We did 6 days of Disney/Universal and it was wonderful but I bet we like beach day best. 🌴🌴🌴🌴🌴 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SebastianCat Posted May 3, 2015 Share Posted May 3, 2015 We live in Tampa and we go to Fred Howard Park in Tarpon Springs or to Honeymoon Island. Ft. DeSoto is also nice. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunshine State Sue Posted May 3, 2015 Share Posted May 3, 2015 Normally I would add Honeymoon Island to the list, but they experienced a lot of beach erosion this past year and the beach is extremely rocky. Caladesi Island is really nice if you are looking for a quiet relaxing beach. :iagree: Just visited both these islands for the first time this year (we've lived here almost 11 years). I was not impressed by Honeymoon Island due to the rocks. Caladesi was delightful. It helped that dolphins escorted the ferry across. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Truscifi Posted May 3, 2015 Share Posted May 3, 2015 :iagree: Just visited both these islands for the first time this year (we've lived here almost 11 years). I was not impressed by Honeymoon Island due to the rocks. Caladesi was delightful. It helped that dolphins escorted the ferry across. They're doing a beach nourishment project on Honeymoon Island this summer which is supposed to restore it to the lovely sandy beach it was last year. I have my fingers crossed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kipling Posted May 3, 2015 Share Posted May 3, 2015 I'll second the recommendation for Fred Howard park (we lived in Tampa for 12 years). I love the Gulf beaches so much more than the Atlantic beaches. The water is so much calmer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TranquilMind Posted May 3, 2015 Share Posted May 3, 2015 We are in Florida on vacation and are "planning" to go to the beach tomorrow. I thought I would just look up beaches and find one but it isn't working out quite that way! What is a good beach to visit? FYI, we are technically in Kissimmee but want to go to Tampa for the beach so maybe something closer that way. Sarasota! Sanibel Island! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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